The Real Winners and Losers from UFC Fight Night 57
According to the sheets, there were precisely 12 winners and 12 losers at UFC Fight Night 57. As we all know, however, things are never quite that simple.
Some improved their lot more than others through victory. Others lost more in defeat than their kin. Further, people who weren't even in the cage made gains or felt losses Saturday.
The biggest winners on the night, by a mile, were the UFC and Conor McGregor. I could give a long-winded explanation, but Bleacher Report's Jeremy Botter spelled it out quite well here.
The biggest losers, however, were once-resurgent veterans. 2013 was defined by fighters like Matt Brown and Robbie Lawler making unexpected climbs into the welterweight title picture after lengthy stints as midcarders. Fight Night 57 featured two fighters in similar positions: Cub Swanson and Bobby Green.
Swanson entered the night on an amazing six-fight winning streak, beating multiple ranked fighters including Dustin Poirier, Dennis Siver and Charles Oliveira. Bobby Green, meanwhile, had an eight-win run to his credit, most recently upsetting Strikeforce veteran Josh Thomson.
Both found themselves closer to a title shot than ever before. Both found themselves in, arguably, an unnecessary, dangerous fight. Both lost. Both now need to restart a climb to the top with no guaranteed riches atop the promotional mountain.
So who else won the night? Who else came up short? Find out here.
Real Winner: UFC's Chances in South Korea
1 of 12
Result
Doo Ho Choi def. Juan Puig, TKO (Round 1, 0:18)
Real Winner: UFC's Chances in South Korea
Doo-Ho Choi came into the UFC with a fair bit of hype, and no matter how high your expectations were, the Korean Super Boy lived up to them. It took just 10 seconds for Choi to find the timing on Juan Puig's sloppy jab and counter with a right hand. And it took just eight more to finish the fight.
Analysis
Having lived in South Korea for a time, I have personally seen how much potential there is there for the UFC. While losing Chan-Sung Jung to military service was no doubt tough for the UFC (he is the country's second-biggest MMA star, behind only Dong-Hyun Kim), the company has found an interesting young fighter to replace him in Choi.
Stylistically, Choi is a mix of Pat Curran and Conor McGregor. Unlike McGregor and Curran, however, Choi actually has an established track record of success against wrestlers (albeit Japanese catch wrestlers). While it's too early to declare Choi the next big thing at featherweight, there is a great deal to be excited about.
Real Loser: Paige VanZant's Doubters
2 of 12
Result
Paige VanZant def. Kailin Curran, TKO (Round 3, 2:54)
Real Loser: Paige VanZant's Doubters
There are strong UFC debuts, and then there are fights like this. Kailin Curran and Paige VanZant came out like two tornadoes when the bell sounded. But while Curran slowed down, VanZant kept pushing full steam ahead.
The result was a Chan-Sung Jung-like performance, as 12 Gauge pressured Curran with clinch work and short strikes, wore her down and scored a third-round finish in what might have been one of the most unexpectedly lopsided performances of the year.
Analysis
It was easy to doubt VanZant at every level. Skill-wise, it didn't seem like she had much beyond some "press-against-the-cage" wrestling and moderately above-average Brazilian jiu-jitsu. Commitment-wise, she seemed too busy as a part-time model and dancer to compete with top-level fighters. Preparation-wise, it seemed like the long injury layoff and public breakup with Team Alpha Male would come back to bite her.
Then she went and put in a performance like this. VanZant opened many eyes Saturday night.
Real Loser: Old Lions
3 of 12
Result
Akbarh Arreola def. Yves Edwards, submission (Round 1, 1:52)
Real Loser: Old Lions
Akbarh Arreola picked up his first UFC win in just five simple steps: uppercut, takedown, clinch, takedown, armbar. That was all the Mexican newcomer needed to get the win over veteran lightweight Yves Edwards.
Analysis
Edwards has been there and done that. Heck, just look at the list of promotions he has appeared in: UFC, Strikeforce, WEC, BodogFight, Pride, King of the Cage, Bellator, EliteXC. A strong case can be made that Edwards is the most experienced fighter in the game today.
But alas, you can't become experienced without becoming older. And alas, age rarely has a positive effect on performance. With a 0-4 (1) record over his last five fights (with the no-contest being an overturned loss), it would be shocking if we saw Edwards compete in the Octagon again.
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Real Loser: Folks Who Didn't See the Fight Pass Prelims
4 of 12
Result
James Vick def. Nick Hein, unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-28)
Real Loser: Folks Who Didn't See the Fight Pass Prelims
Nick Hein and James Vick put on one of those fights that show just how far the UFC has fallen talent-wise since 2011. There were occasional volleys of sloppy punches, sure, and the first round was actually fairly interesting. When the final bell sounded, the bout felt a lot longer than 15 minutes.
In the end, James Vick was on the better end of an absolutely stupefying set of scorecards.
Analysis
Fight Pass sported two fights involving three intriguing prospects. Fox Sports 1 had...this.
I'm not in the fight promotion business, but this doesn't really make sense to me. You would think that interesting young prospects should be the ones to get airtime, rather than lifetime midcarders or dwindling veterans...but here we are.
Real Loser: Striking Coaches
5 of 12
Result
Roger Narvaez def. Luke Barnatt, split decision (28-29, 29-28, 29-28)
Real Loser: Striking Coaches
In a shot-for-shot remake of his last fight, Luke Barnatt once again plodded his way to a yawn-inducing split-decision loss. From start to finish, he had no idea how to close the distance against Roger Narvaez. That led to two slow rounds, followed by a third where Narvaez landed one big punch and ate up minutes with top control. The judges snubbed Barnatt again, and the British middleweight's career has officially entered a tailspin.
Analysis
Between his showboating and cocky feinting, Barnatt looks like a tall fighter when he's a safe distance from his opponent. The same goes for James Vick, a 6'3" lightweight. But while they look big, they fight small.
That isn't new. Neil Magny, Stefan Struve and many more have no idea how to make use of a lanky frame. It's just ridiculous that fighters remain completely ignorant on how to fight long with all the footage out there of Semmy Schilt, Jon Jones and Tyson Fury.
Real Loser: Roy Nelson Jr.
6 of 12
Result
Ruslan Magomedov def. Josh Copeland, unanimous decision (29-28, 30-27, 30-27)
Real Loser: Roy Nelson Jr.
Josh Copeland certainly doesn't look like a fighter, but he put up an admirable effort against Dagestani kickboxer Ruslan Magomedov. The two heavyweights banged on each other in one of those fun, campy, heavyweight fights that used to be a welcome part of Bellator preliminary cards. In the end, the chiseled-by-comparison Magomedov got the unanimous-decision nod.
Analysis
This was not a technically amazing fight by any stretch. Sure, Copeland has serious power and Magomedov's kickboxing is no joke, but I think we can all imagine Jack Slack sighing and shaking his head at this fight.
Dammit, though! You can't tell me that wasn't fun. That was a welcome change after a long, ugly stretch on the card.
Real Loser: Isaac Vallie-Flagg
7 of 12
Result
Matt Wiman def. Isaac Vallie-Flagg, unanimous decision (29-28, 30-27, 30-27)
Real Loser: Isaac Vallie-Flagg
Matt Wiman has been out of the cage for a long while, but you wouldn't know it by watching him Saturday night. While Isaac Vallie-Flagg is a good fighter at short range, Wiman matched him shot-for-shot and wound up taking his back on numerous occasions. That grappling superiority was good enough to earn him the unanimous-decision nod.
Analysis
Wiman's comeback story is nice, but it likely comes at the expense of Isaac Vallie-Flagg's job. IVF has become something of a fan favorite, but with a 1-3 UFC record (with his one win being an iffy split decision over Yves Edwards), it's hard to rationalize his continued presence on the roster.
Real WInner: Moral Victories
8 of 12
Result
Joseph Benavidez def. Dustin Ortiz, unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
Real Winner: Moral Victories
The outcome was pretty much a foregone conclusion: Joseph Benavidez was going to defeat Dustin Ortiz. While Benavidez did just that, outstriking Ortiz from bell to bell, the Roufusport fighter kept things fairly interesting. Benavidez would earn the unanimous-decision victory, but Ortiz would earn all our respect.
Analysis
I doubt Ortiz takes much solace in this appraisal. This was his opportunity to vault to the top, and while a win would have potentially put him into title contention, this loss set him back to square one. Still, the expectation was for this to be a showcase fight for Benavidez...and it was not that.
Ortiz just survived three rounds with one of the top pound-for-pound non-champions in the UFC. He deserves credit for that.
Real Winner: Fans of the Heavyweights
9 of 12
Result
Oleksiy Oliynyk def. Jared Rosholt, knockout (Round 1, 3:21)
Real Winner: Fans of the Heavyweights
A battle between formidable heavyweight grapplers wound up being a good ol' fashioned slugfest. Jared Rosholt clipped Alexey Oleinik with a hard punch that badly rocked him and put his back against the cage. The Russian survived a brutal onslaught of punches and eventually retreated to a comfortable distance.
However, as Rosholt pressed forward, Oleinik delivered a brutal right hand behind the ear, followed by a left to the chin. That combination put out the lights for The Big Show and is sure to push Oleinik up the heavyweight rankings.
Analysis
That fight was a breath of fresh air. After five average-or-worse fights between 10 average-or-worse fighters, followed by a decent-at-best affair between Ortiz and Benavidez, this was a much-needed injection of both talent and excitement. This fight will likely serve as a coming-out party for Oleinik, whose back-to-back UFC finishes hopefully serve as a ticket to face some ranked opponents.
Real Loser: Brad Pickett's Relevance
10 of 12
Result
Chico Camus def. Brad Pickett, split decision (29-28, 30-27, 29-28)
Real Loser: Brad Pickett's Relevance
Pickett came into this fight in dire need of a win. Alas, it did not happen. Facing Chico Camus in a sloppy, ugly fight, Pickett just couldn't find his range or get Camus down. That allowed the Roufusport fighter to get the edge on the scorecards and gives him what is likely a job-saving win over the veteran.
Analysis
When a critical light is held to Pickett's time in the UFC and WEC, it's tough to really buy into him as a top-level fighter. However, while losses to Ian McCall, Eddie Wineland and Michael McDonald are nothing to be ashamed of, Camus simply isn't a very good fighter. This loss, unfortunately, likely marks the end of Pickett's days as a relevant fighter.
Real Loser: Bobby Green's Second Wind
11 of 12
Result
Edson Barboza def. Bobby Green, unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
Real Loser: Bobby Green's Second Wind
In a battle between compelling lightweight strikers, the resurgent Bobby Green faced dynamic kicker Edson Barboza. While most fights are dynamic in nature, this fight was the same from start to finish; Green pressed forward while Barboza reared back and tried to land counters. While that can go in any given direction depending on the night, Barboza's accurate hands got him the unanimous nod from the judges.
Analysis
Another sad turn for Green. The UFC brass did the Strikeforce alumnus no favors entering this fight, nixing matchups with both Jorge Masvidal and Donald Cerrone. When he was matched with Barboza, it was a no-win situation for him, where even a brutal knockout would simply let him stay in a holding pattern.
Now, with this loss, what might have been a Matt Brown-like career turnaround has been nipped in the bud. It really stinks that it shook out this way.
Real Winner: Dana White
12 of 12
Result
Frankie Edgar def. Cub Swanson, submission (Round 5, 4:56)
Real Winner: Dana White
When Cub Swanson vs. Frankie Edgar first started, Swanson was in his comfort zone, throwing hellacious punches and dangerous kicks with impunity. Unfortunately, that lasted for about two minutes. After that point, Edgar nailed takedown after takedown and landed heavy ground-and-pound we simply didn't see during his time at lightweight. That allowed the former champ to whittle Swanson down until, with just seconds left in the final round, he forced a tap.
Analysis
Well, Swanson's days as a title contender are over for now. It stinks, but those are the breaks. But while Edgar earned the win, the biggest beneficiaries were the UFC and its president.
Why is that? Conor McGregor now has a free shot to the belt, and that will likely turn every eyeball in the Zuffa boardroom into protruding dollar signs. Not only that, but with this win, White's longtime man-crush is right back into the thick of the title picture. Not a bad day for him at all.
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